Editor's note: This is the second story in a four-part series describing various polls in different NCAA sports.
For the last 25 years, there has not been one Associated Press men's basketball poll that national college basketball writer Jim O'Connell did not hold.
O'Connell, who has been with the AP since 1978, has been involved with every poll for a quarter of a century but has not cast a ballot.
We're the collectors and the historical gatekeepers
but no one from the AP actually votes O'Connell said. I remember when I used to use a piece of paper and a pencil and tally the votes; it's nice we have the computer program that does it now.
There are 72 voters who take part in the weekly AP poll, something many writers consider an honor, O'Connell said.
While the fans clamor for the poll in the early season to see where their teams stand, the beauty of the poll is that it has no real bearing on the NCAA Tournament in March, O'Connell said.
I've seen people with arguments in football and it is always at the top whereas in basketball I think most of the talk comes from teams that deserve to be at the bottom of it
whether it's the Mid-American Conference
Sunbelt or WAC
O'Connell said. It does make a difference to the coaches because schools love to have that number in front of their name.
The ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll takes on an element that the AP does not by including people who are a part of the game in the voting.
Assistants are often consulted for results when voting takes place, Western
Michigan women's basketball coach Ron Stewart said.
I think they encourage you to consult others; they more or less challenge the voter to do a good job of voting
and you need to research it
Stewart said.
In his four years as the MAC representative among the 40 women's voters,
Stewart said there was not a guaranteed spot for a MAC team in his poll each week.
I think there are not too many teams on a yearly basis that are really in the top 25
Stewart said. If you're talking top 50
top 75
I can give you two or three that can compete
